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Austin J. Kind is 2024 Winter Father Aquinas Award Recipient

Austin Kind of Homer Glen, Illinois, was honored with the Father Aquinas Colgan Award during Â鶹¸ßÇå’s Evening Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony December 13 on its Romeoville Campus. The Father Aquinas Award is the university’s highest honor for academic achievement, leadership, and service.

Kind, who earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics and Data Science and a minor in Mathematical Modeling, has maintained a 4.0 GPA while excelling in research and community engagement.

At Â鶹¸ßÇå, Kind conducted cutting-edge research on complex topics like health disparities and disease spread using agent-based models (ABMs). His work, guided by faculty mentors in Â鶹¸ßÇå’s Engineering, Computer and Mathematics Sciences Department, includes modeling the spread of Clostridioides difficile in hospitals and COVID-19 transmission on campus. He has presented his findings at prestigious conferences such as MAA MathFest and the Illinois Section of the Mathematical Association of America (ISMAA) Conference, earning accolades including multiple Honorable Mentions for Outstanding Research Posters.

In addition to his research, Kind has actively contributed to the Â鶹¸ßÇå community as a teaching assistant, tutor, and member of the Math Club. His passion for education and mentorship extended to his summer work at Brown University’s ICERM Program, where he served as a teaching assistant.

Kind expressed gratitude for the recognition, “The Father Aquinas Award is an incredible honor. My experience at Â鶹¸ßÇå has given me the tools and confidence to make a meaningful impact in data science and mathematics.”

Â鶹¸ßÇå is a modern, enterprising, Catholic university with a growing student enrollment from GED through doctoral level programs. As part of the global Lasallian network of 65 universities, Â鶹¸ßÇå is known for preparing graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.